Attitudes of Arabic (Saudi) speakers toward learning English language - Research Proposal Example

Attitudes of Arabic (Saudi) speakers towards learning the English language Introduction This paper focuses on the attitudes of Arabic speakers in learning the English language. The study will focus on investigating the orientation of Arabic speakers with reference to their attitudes in learning the English language. There are different factors that influence the attitudes of Arabic speakers to learn the English language. These factors may contribute positively or negatively to the attitudes of Arabic speakers in learning the English language.

This topic is essential in the language field because it illustrates the importance of learning English as a language that is globally accepted (Boxer, 2002).The purpose of the studyThe attitude of Arabic speakers towards leaning the English language is normally influenced by positive and negative factors. The positive factors influencing the attitudes of Arabic speakers in learning the English language include; motivation, which plays a crucial in the attitudes developed by Arabic speakers in learning the English language.

Motivation is essential in the development of attitudes by Arabic speakers towards the English language in that; the lack of motivation for speakers normally result to the loss of interest by Arabic speakers in learning the English language. The lack of motivation, therefore, normally affects the success of the Arabians in learning the English language (Derwing, Et al, 2004). Pedagogic factors also tend to influence the development of attitudes by Arabian speakers towards learning the English language.

The learning environment normally plays a crucial role in the development of attitudes by Arabic speakers towards learning the English language. When the learning environment is favorable, it is evident that Arabic speakers are likely to develop positive attitudes towards learning the language. If the learning environment enhances a better understanding of the English language by the Arabic speaker, then it is evident that Arabic speakers will develop a positive attitude towards learning the language.

However, unfavorable learning environments normally result to the development of negative attitudes by Arabic speakers towards learning the English language (Edwards & Giles, 2006).The teaching programs also play a role in the attitudes of the Arabic speakers in learning English. To enhance the development of positive attitudes by Arabic speakers towards the English language, it is essential that the learning curriculum is designed in a way that it favors the understanding of the English language by the Arabic speaker.

If the curriculum does not favor the understanding of Arabic speakers of the English language, then speakers are likely to develop negative attitudes (Kerswill, 2006).The status of the English in Saudi Arabia also influences the attitudes of Arabic speakers towards learning the English language. The increased usage of the language in some areas of Saudi Arabia has resulted to the development of positive attitudes by Arabic speakers in learning the English language. However, the reduced usage of the language in some parts of Saudi Arabia results to the development of negative attitudes by Arabic speakers in learning the English language (Kubota, 2001).

Research Questions1. Discuss the factors that contribute to the positive attitudes by Arabic speakers in learning the English language.2. Discuss how some of the factors result to the development of negative attitudes by Arabic speakers in learning the English language.3. Are the attitudes of Arabic speakers in learning English influenced instrumental factors or integrative factors?4. Do Arabic speakers demonstrate positive attitudes or negative attitudes towards the English language?5. How do pedagogic factors influence the attitudes of Arabic speakers towards the English language?

Data Collection, Presentation and AnalysisThe study was intended to evaluate of the attitudes of Saudi speakers in learning the English language, a group of Saudi speakers was selected for the study. Data was collected from 50 male and 50 female speakers from different parts of Saudi Arabia. They were then interviewed on their attitudes in learning the English language. Questionnaires were also used in conducting interviews. The results depict that there are different factors that affect the attitudes of Arabic speakers in learning the English language.

The factors include; motivation of Arabic speakers to learn the English language, the pedagogic factors, teaching programs and the status of the language in Saudi Arabia (Shabbir & Bughio, 2009).ReferencesBoxer, D. (2002): Discourse Issues in Cross-cultural Pragmatics. The Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 22: 150–67. Derwing, T. and et al (2004): Second Language Fluency: Judgments on Different Tasks. Language Learning, 655–679. Edwards, J. & Giles, H. (2006): Applied sociology of language.

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